RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it will conduct an internal evaluation regarding the nomination of a judge to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) following the passing of Indonesia’s candidate, Eddy Pratomo. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, conveyed that Indonesia remains committed to advancing its interests as an archipelagic state, including efforts to secure representation at ITLOS.

“We will continue to advocate for Indonesia’s interests as an archipelagic state, and regarding the nomination, we will conduct an internal evaluation,” Nabyl said during a press briefing on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Jakarta.

Nabyl explained that Eddy Pratomo’s nomination was intended to strengthen Indonesia’s position in international maritime law forums, while also representing the interests of developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. He added that since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, Indonesia has never held a judge position at ITLOS.

Eddy Pratomo passed away on April 29, 2026, at the age of 72. He was widely recognized as an expert in international law who contributed to strengthening Indonesia’s bilateral relations with Germany and was actively involved in maritime boundary negotiations.

He previously served as Director General for Legal Affairs and International Treaties at the Foreign Ministry, and as the President’s Special Envoy for Indonesia-Malaysia maritime boundary delimitation.

The Indonesian government had nominated Eddy as an ITLOS judge for the 2026–2035 term in May 2025. However, he passed away before the election of seven ITLOS judges scheduled to take place in June in New York.

For context, ITLOS is an independent international tribunal established under UNCLOS 1982 and based in Hamburg. It is responsible for settling disputes related to the interpretation and application of international maritime law, including issues such as marine resource exploration, environmental protection, and other maritime legal matters.